Helmets set good example, save lives

May 9, 2013

Second-grader Khaidynce James takes off her bike helmet after biking to school with her family (brother Kohen, 5, background) for the first day of school at Magee Elementary School in Two Rivers on Tuesday, September 4, 2012. Sue Pischke/HTR / Gannett Wisconsin Media file photo

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Coming bike events:

May 16 — Community Bike and Walk at Soccer Field and Recreation Park, Tower Road in Kronenwetter. 6 p.m. Family friendly event will include a short presentation on bike and pedestrian safety. There will be one walking route and two bike routes to choose from. Upon participants return to the park, food, drinks, door prizes and music will be provided free. No registration is required. May 18 — Bike rodeo at South Mountain School, 5400 Bittersweet Road, Rib Mountain. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be a helmet fitting station and a safety course as well as a family bike ride near the school.

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Whether you are going a block down the road or on a 10-mile ride with the family, safety experts strongly advise the use of bike helmets.

They can reduce a lot of injuries and offer some peace of mind, especially, because it’s not always possible to recover from a severe head injury. And even though bicyclists are not legally required to wear helmets in Wisconsin, they can mean the difference between taking a tumble off your bike and shaking it off or needing medical treatment for an injury.

“You can’t always count on what other vehicles are doing. We don’t plan accidents, they can happen any time,” said Michelle Armstrong, Safe Kids and injury prevention coordinator at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.

Every helmet is sized different. Armstrong said the helmet should be snug and sit just above the eyebrow. The side straps should form a “V” underneath the ear. The chin strap should be snug but still allow helmet wears to open their mouth. It’s a good idea to check fit throughout the year, especially for growing children.

Armstrong said parents should model safety behavior to kids by also wearing bike helmets.

Helmets should be replaced if there are chunks of foam missing or any outside crack in the plastic.